# Natilus

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/natilus
Natilus is a San Diego startup founded in 2016 that designs blended-wing-body aircraft, where the fuselage itself is shaped like a wing and adds lift. It is building Kona, a regional cargo plane, and designing Horizon, a 200-plus-seat airliner.

## In brief

- Raised a $28M Series A led by Draper Associates in February 2026 to finish the first full-scale Kona.
- Claims a 570+ aircraft reservation book worth $24B, mostly Kona; SpiceJet's 100 Horizons depend on certification.
- Full-scale Kona first flight has slipped from 2024 to within 24 months of February 2026.

## Facts

- Founded: 2016
- Headquarters: US
- Status: private
- Raised: $28M
- Website: https://natilus.co
- Frontiers: [Aviation](https://technooptimist.io/aviation.md) (Next-gen airliners)

## Programs

- [Horizon](https://technooptimist.io/aviation/horizon.md) (Aviation): Research; next: Type certification and first deliveries (early 2030s). In design, now a two-deck layout; SpiceJet holds a conditional order for 100
- [Kona](https://technooptimist.io/aviation/kona.md) (Aviation): Proto; next: Full-scale prototype first flight (Q1 2028, slipped 48 mo). Full-scale prototype being built; first flight due by early 2028, slipped from 2024

## Technical approach

- **Lifting body: The fuselage is a wing**: A wide, flat body generates lift itself, so the outer wings can be smaller and the whole plane has less drag.
- **Engines: Existing engines**: Both designs use engines already in service to avoid the cost and risk of a new engine programme.
- **Materials: Composite airframe**: Carbon and glass fibre composites shape the curved body, which is hard to build from aluminium.

## Open problems

- **Certifying a new shape** (open): No blended-wing airliner has ever carried passengers, so regulators have no precedent for evacuation and pressurisation.
- **Funding a full airliner** (open): A clean-sheet airliner costs billions; $28M funds the small freighter, not Horizon.

## Latest updates

- **10 Feb 2026**: Natilus raises $28M Series A led by Draper Associates to finish full-scale Kona. Natilus raised $28 million led by Draper Associates, with Type One Ventures, The Veterans Fund and Flexport as strategic investors, to complete the first full-scale Kona prototype, expected to fly within 24 months. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/natilus-raises-28m-series-a-led-by-draper-associates-to-finish-full-431df656.md) · [original source](https://natilus.co/natilus-raises-28-million-series-a-to-commercialize-family-of-hyper-efficient-blended-wing-aircraft/))
- **17 Dec 2025**: SpiceJet signs conditional deal for 100 Natilus Horizon blended-wing airliners. Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet agreed a potential order for 100 Horizon aircraft, contingent on regulatory and certification approvals, and will help Natilus through India's certification process. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/spicejet-signs-conditional-deal-for-100-natilus-horizon-blended-wing-98896152.md) · [original source](https://aviationnews.eu/news/2025/12/spicejet-and-natilus-partner-to-launch-blended-wing-aircraft-in-india/))
- **23 Oct 2024**: Natilus unveils Horizon, a 200-seat blended-wing airliner for the early 2030s. Natilus revealed Horizon, a 200-passenger blended-wing-body airliner aimed at the 737 MAX and A321neo market, claiming 30% lower fuel burn and 40% more interior volume than tube-and-wing aircraft. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/natilus-unveils-horizon-a-200-seat-blended-wing-airliner-for-the-early-d24af2a5.md) · [original source](https://backend.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2024-10-23/natilus-reveals-plan-200-seat-blended-wing-body-airliner))
- **19 Apr 2023**: Natilus flies subscale Kona prototype, validating its blended-wing cargo design. Natilus completed multiple flights of a subscale Kona prototype from a private runway in Southern California, reaching 70 mph. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/natilus-flies-subscale-kona-prototype-validating-its-blended-wing-cargo-e528b02d.md) · [original source](https://natilus.co/successful-flight-of-natilus-kona-prototype-validates-performance-of-unique-blended-wing-body-design-paving-the-way-for-completion-of-full-scale-autonomous-cargo-drone/))

## Funding

| Date | Round | Amount | Post-money | Leads |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 10 Feb 2026 | Series A | $28M |   | Draper Associates |

## Partners, customers and investors

- SpiceJet (customer): Conditional order for 100 Horizon, December 2025, subject to certification
- Ameriflight (customer): Kona reservation
- Nolinor Aviation (customer): Agreed to buy multiple Kona, February 2025
- Flexport (investor): Strategic investor in the 2026 Series A and Kona customer

## People

- Aleksey Matyushev, Co-founder and CEO
- Anatoly Starikov, Co-founder

---

The Techno Optimist tracks every frontier of technology, program by program: https://technooptimist.io/ (a Markdown version of any page: add .md to its URL; site map for agents: https://technooptimist.io/llms.txt).
Data API (JSON, realtime stream): https://technooptimist.io/developers. People read 5 pages free, then Reader $10/month; these Markdown pages are open to agents.